Bust-form.



M. V. HEUCHAN.

BUST FORM.

APPucmoN FILED :uns 23.1916.

1,250,875. Patented De.18,1917

KABEL V. HEUCHAN, 0F LOS `ANCtEl'JES, CALIFORNIA.

BUST-FORM.

Speeicatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 18, 1911.

I Application led J' une 23, 1916. Serilal No. 105,368.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, MABEL V. HEpoHAN., a subject -of the King of Great Britaln, res1d ing at Los Angeles, in the county of` I Jos Angeles and State of California, have 1nvented new and useful lmprovements 1n Bust-Forms, of which the following 1s a specification. I

This invention relates to a bust form and particularly pertains to a mounting there- Bust forms have heretofore been devised possessing the requisite shape and pliabllity which is usually accomplished by inflatmg hollow forms or by padded structures. Such forms have proven objectionable in that inflated forms are injured by puncture and padded forms soon lose their shape and pliability. Furthermore, the bust forms of the above character and which are now generally in use, lack the desirable character of'independent movement in relation to the body, which is essential to produce an e'ective imitation of the natural breasts.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a breast form which possesses substantially all the characteristics of the natural breast as to shape, plability and movement in relation to the body and which is so constructed. that it will not be injured by puncture and will retain its shape and pliability; the principal object of the invention being to provide a bust form and a mounting therefor which will permit of a yieldable movement of the form in its entirety in relation to the body so as not to appear rigid on motion of the body.

Another object is to provide a resilient support for a breast form by which the latter may have universal movement in relation to the body when attached thereto and which will tend to maintain the breast form in a normal, natural position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

- The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

.Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating the application of the invention.

ig. 2 is a view in vertical section of one of the breast forms and its mounting, showin the form as hollow.

.gFiga 3 is a detail section of the breast form More specifically, 5 and 6 indicate annular breast form supporting members which are preferably constructed of a suitable nonelastic Woven fabric and may be adjustably connected together by means of a buckle 7 or other suitable fastening deviceengageable with straps 8 and 9 extending from the contiguous portions of the annular members 5 and 6 but which adjustment maybe dispensed with.

As a means for attaching the members 5 and 6 to the body, they are provided with straps 10 and 11 respectively, which are here shown as secured to the annulary members diametrically opposite the straps` 8 and 9 and adapted to encircle the body beneath the arms and adjustably connected together by means of a buckle 121, or other suitable fastening. An elastic insertion 13 is provided in the body-encirclin strap, to permit expansion and contraction thereof and thereby not hinder free movement of the body. Shoulder straps 14 and 15 provided with buckles 16 and 17 connect the upper portions of the annular members 5 and 6 to the strap 10 and are adapted to pass over the shoulders for the purpose of maintaining the supporting members in the desired horizontal position. It is obvious that any suitable means may be employed `for fastening the supporting members yto the body.

The bust form carried by porting members 5 and 6 is structed with a pliable resilient outer wall 18 conforming in contour with the natural breast and which wall is here shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as comprising an outer facing 19 of thin sheet rubber or othersuitable material to obtain a backed and maintained to shape by an inner wall which is preferably formed of sponge each of the sup- .rubber-QO shaped to the desired form.' The wall 18, when thus constructed, is pliable, resilient, and yet of such rigidity as to normally maintain its shape and obviates vthe use of pneumatic forms which. are ordinarily preferably conpreferably desired surface and which is forming an air-tight compartment 21. The space in the compartment 21 is occupled by a1r at normal atmospheric pressure to form an air cushion which tends to restore the wall 19 to its normal distended position when depressed. The air in the chamber 21, being of atmospheric pressure, prevents collapse of the structure in event of puncture and furthermore provides a yieldable backing for the wall 19.

The essence of the present invention resides in a resilient connection between the breast form and the supporting member which is here shown as comprising an annular elastic and resilient band 22 which is vulcanized or otherwise securely attached at its inner edge to the outer marginal edge of the wall 18; the outer edge of the band 22 being firmly secured to the supporting member. This band 22 may be formed integral with and in continuation of the wall facing 19. The connection between the Aband 22 and supporting member is here shown as effected by stitching 23; the outer edge of the band being reinforced by a fabric strip 24 which encompasses the outer marginal edge of the band 22 and receives the stitching 23 by which the elastic band is secured to the supporting member.

The elastic band 22 is preferably continuous and is of such free elastic character so as to readily permit universal movement of the breast form in its entirety in relation to the supporting member but of sufficient strength to support the breast form in a normal position without expansion of the band. The band 22 is preferably of greater elasticity than the wall 18 so that the latter will vibrate on movement of the body.

The back of the breast form may be cov'- ered by a craped material or net 25 which is secured at its edges to the supporting member and serves as a shield to prevent contact of the inner wall of the structure with the iiesh. By forming the shield of craped material, movement of the breast form in relation to the supporting member is permitted.

The operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing, it being obvious that when the bust formis applied, as shown in Fig. 1, the breast forms will resiliently depend from their supports so as to have independent movement in relation to each other and to the body while securely heldv in place, and to vibrate on motion of the body.

By the construction herein set forth, the

breast forms will not appear rigid as is the case with the ordinary bust forms now in general use, thus permitting the bust form being worn with bathing suits and thin costumes without being readily detected.

As a means for Ventilating the space rearward of the wall 18 the band 22 may be formed with perforations 26,-spaced at suitable intervals apart.

Various changes may be madein the detail construction of the form and its mounting without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A bust form, comprising a breast form, an annular supporting member encircling said breast form, and an annular elastic connection between the breast form and the supporting member, whereby the breast form may have universal movement in its gitirety in relation to the supporting mem- 2. A bust form, comprising an annular non-elastic supporting member, an annular elastic band connected at its outer edge to said supporting member, and a breast form connected at its outer marginal edge to the inner marginal edge of the elastic band, whereby it may have universal movement in relation to the supporting member.

3. A bust form, comprising an annular non-elastic supporting member, an annular elastic band connected at its outer edge to said supporting member, and a pliable wall having a contour conforming to the breast afiiXed at its outer edge to the inner edge of the elastic band, saidvwall having less elasticity than the band.

4. A bust form, comprising an annular non-elastic supporting member, an annular elastic band connected at its outer edge to said supporting member, an outer pliable wall having a contour conforming to the breast affixed at its outer edge to the inner edge of the elastic band, said wall having less elasticity than the band, and a flexible rear wall attached to said outer pliable wall.

5. A -bust form, comprising a breast form, an annular supporting member encircling said breast form, and an elastic connection between the breast form and supporting member whereby the breast form may have universal movement in its entirety in relation to the supporting member.

6. A bust form, comprising a breast form, a supporting member for said breast form, and an elastic connection between the breast form and the supporting member whereby the breast form may have universal movement in its entirety in relation to the supporting member.

7. A bust form, comprising a breast form, a supporting member therefor spaced therefrom, and an elastic connection between the breast form and the supporting member whereby the breast form may have universal movementl in relation to the supporting member, said elastic connection formed with openings to vent the back of the breast form.

8. A bust form, comprising an annular fabric and non-elastic supporting member, a perforated annular elastic band carried thereby, and a pliable wall supported by said band.

9. A breast form, comprising an annular fabric non-elastic supporting member, a perorated annular elastic band secured at its outer periphery to the inner edge of said supporting member, and a pliable Wall having less elasticity than the elastic band supported by said band.

l0. A bust form, comprising an annular non-elastic supporting member, an annular 'elastic' band carried thereby,and a (pliable breast form supported by said ban 11. A bust form, comprising a circular non-elastic band, an annular elastic band senon-elastic band, an elastic member; adapted to be secured to said non-elastic band, and

a pliable breast form secured to said nonelastic band by the elastic member.,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MABEL V. HEUCHAN. 

